Dryer switch



June 23,1959 C s, SWTH' 2,892,041

DRYER SWITCH Filed Feb. '7. 195e @i ff ATTORNEY ,assembly and a prolonged operational life. :the construction of the switch is the novel plunger artrangement mechanism which cooperates with a rotating cam assembly to activate a series of contacts in a predetermined time arrangement which is dependent upon the length of the circumferential tracks of the cam. The jplunger construction is uniquely held within the confines of a pair of mounting plates placed opposite each other, with the intervening space being unusually narrow for this type of switch, since most of the actuating mecha- United States Patent O DRYER SWITCH Charles S. Smith, Warsaw, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware `Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 563,959

5 Claims. (Cl. 200-38) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in program timing mechanisms for control of a sequence of operations and has particular pertinence toward providing means and methods for defining the time duration of operations encompassed during a program included by automatic washing machines and the like.

In automatic washing machine devices, the need exists for a simplified switch or timing mechanism adapted to control the drying of clothes. The present invention provides an improved dryer switch which is rugged, simple and efficient in construction and inexpensive in cost. The switch has alignment, contact arrangement and mounting features which produce extreme reliability in automatic Essential in :nism is arranged to utilize the horizontal spacing between .the plates efficiently and advantageously, full utilization '.being made of the vertical dimension of the switch to place components usually found in the horizontal space thereof.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel timer switch for use in a dryer assembly of a washing machine or the like.

Another object of the subject invention is to provide a simplified cam operated program tirner for an automatic dryer apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide :a plunger timer switch actuated by a cam wherein a lint and textile free operation is afforded by the novel mounted construction thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a timer switch of the multiple plunger type which is simple in construction and ruggedly mounted, with an improved make-and-break contact structure included in a novel alignment and mount construction, allowing for the simple, fast and economical construction thereof with a mini- Vswitch to adapt the same for suspension and alignment `thereof above the rotatable cam of the switch;

2,892,047, Patented June 23, 1959 ICC Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional View of an embodiment of the instant novel switch as taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and as adapted to illustrate the co-operative alignment of plunger and cam sections of the vswitch as mounted between the brackets of the switch;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view of the switch as adapted to show the cooperative arrangement and construction of the novel plunger switch mechanism in relation to the contacts thereof as being actuated by the cam drive of the dryer switch and as taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top sectionalized view of the present switch taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 as adapted to illustrate the contact mounting arrangement of the plunger switch and the mounting of the plunger housing in the side slots of the plate including the cam portions of the switch; and

Fig. 5 is the inside of the top portion of the plunger housing on the present invention.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar functional components and it is to be taken that the description exemplifies a preferred embodiment of the switch, and the scope of the invention is to be determined from the claims.

Generally speaking, the present dryer switch comprises a novel plunger switch, the construction of which has eliminated expensive methods of assembly and has substantially decreased the material costs, while at the same time the adaptability and efficiency thereof have been greatly increased. In the construction of the switch means have been provided for utilizing the vertical space above the driver cam so as to essentially lessen the crosssectional, horizontal space needed by the entire switch. Since space requirements are at a premium and of considerable importance in the placement of a switch in an appliance, the present structure, which affords added latitude for the use thereof because of overcoming such restrictions, makes for a considerable advance in the art of switch manufacture and assembly.

Referring now to the figures, views are shown which are adapted to illustrate the placement of a plunger switch mechanism 10 and housing 13 within the confines of mounting plates 11, 12, constructed so as to afford means and methods for cooperatively aligning and holding the plunger switch 10 and housing 13 above the cam 14, which will be adapted to time and control the excursion of the plungers 15, 16 so as to make and break a plurality of contacts through the utilization of a shorting bar mechanism 17 riding on each plunger and as adapted to interconnect the contacts held on contact bearing arms 18, 19, 20 and 21. These contact bearing arms are in turn adapted to be iixedly maintained with reference to the plungers by being predeterminedly aligned and mounted in the plunger switch housing without the need for costly welding or staking assembly procedures and hardware.

Mounting plates 11 and 12 are separated from each other by means of hollow spacer bars, such as 22 and 23, here shown to be cylindrical, an end of which is iixedly staked to one of the plates, as at point 24, while the other plate may be tightened thereto by means of individual screws, such as 25, which are adapted to be tightened within the confines of the bars, by reason of which plate 11 may be removed or adjusted, if desired. To the back face of rear plate 12 there is atiixed a synchronous motor 26 which upon proper current excitation is adapted to drive a gear 27, which in turn will drive a cooperating gear 28 mounted on shaft 30. A reduced portion of the shaft is rotatable within a collar or bearing 32 which is integrally formed in the face of the rear plate. The shaft has a section of splines which is of greater diameter than the reduced section of the shaft.

aseaow The splined section is adapted to snugly grip the multiple faced cam in a manner adapted to rotate the same upon the meshing of the gears connected to the driver motor.

As is seen, an aperture 31, providing a front bearing for the shaft, is formed in the front plate of the switch. Shaft 3l) is further adapted to be moved axially in or out so as to engage or disengage the shaft driving gears as moved within the bearing collar. To aid in this axial movement, a spring 33 is placed so as to circumscribe a front collar of the cam and its adjacent shaft portion to give a compressive effect by being buttressed against an inside surface of the cam and an inside surface of front plate 11. The outside portion of the shaft has a slot 36 within which a C washer 37 is adapted to be fitted so as to aid in mounting thc shaft as it passes through the front plate. An indexing knob 38 is placed on the shaft and tightened thereagainst by means of a screw which is countersunk in the neck of the knob until it is tightly held on the shaft.

As shown in the figures, each plate is of thin crosssection and has a novel construction adapted to aid in the retention of the housing containing the plungers that are activated by the rotating cam. Each of the plates, for example7 plate 11, comprises a main body section 40 of generally rectangular configuration and has side walls 41, 42. Top walls 43, 44 joined to side walls 41, 42 are inclined toward each other to form a neck portion 45 integrally joined to a head portion 46 formed of sides 47, 48 connected thereto. A rectangular' slot 49 is cut within the head portion so that the bottom wall thereof extends downwardly into the area defined by the neck for a determined distance, depending upon the desired vertical placement of the plunger housing thereon. In the construction of the plunger housing, as hereinafter described, moulded extensions will be formed which will be adapted to fit into each of the rectangular' slots formed in the plates, whereby they will be snugly held and aligned therein.

The plunger housing 13 is of moulded construction and comprises interfitting top and bottom sections 50 and 51. Top section Si) comprises a generally rectangular configuration having a top wall 52 to which vertical side walls, such as 53, 54 are attached. Opposite side walls have extensions 55 and 56 which t into the rectangular slots formed in the mounting plates. The top wall has apertures cut therethrough, which are adapted to allow plungers 15 and 16 to penetrate the top wall. Above these apertures are formed two cupolas 61 and 62 integrally joined to the top wall so as to form a protective covering for the plungers and to prevent lint or dust from entering the plunger housing to possibly im pede the operation thereof.

The inside of each of the housing sections has been so constructed with reference to each other that the plungers, shorting bar and contact carrying arms coopcrate with each other and are held in cooperative juxtaposition to perform their separate functions with great efficiency and in a manner such that costly contacts, alignment and assembly materials and techniques have been eliminated, while a superior plunger switch has rcsulted thereby.

The top part 50 of the housing may be considered to be the female portion thereof, while the bottom portion 51 may be considered as being the male portion. The top portion has a portion of the inside wall near its top, cut out and running around the circumference thereof. This portion is broken up by a series of partitions 71, 72. moulded to the inside of the top jutting out from opposing sides toward each other and toward the center forming a series of compartments which will be adapted by reason of the steps formed in the inside wall by said cut-out portion and said portion to form a plurality of engaging locks for male extensions 80, 81 and 82 in the lower half 51 of the housing.

These extensions, besides their function of interconnecting the bottom half of the housing to the top half in a substantially tight fit, also have been constructed so as to form, by their shape, holding and aligning grippers for the contact bearing arms, such as 18, 19, 20 and 21. The outside protuberances or extensions of the lower half of the housing have a C-shaped configuration facing toward each other, while intermediately is a dumb-bell shaped extension. Thus, there are formed keyways for holding the contact arms. As shown, each contact arm has a contact bearing section 83 adapted to face inwardly of the housing to butt against the inside wall of the same, a narrow neck portion 84 adapted to fit within the keyway formed through the wall of the housing, and a wide terminal section 85 on the outside of the housing. These are all formed as one piece, with the terminal being pierced for accepting an electrical conductor. The Contact arm, as described, has a thickness just less than that of the male extension so that when the housings are closed the top portion lits down over the lower portion to tightly hold the arms thereby. The cost of the contact arms is greatly reduced because they are extremely short, with a consequent saving in material, and they are much more eicient in that better contact make-and-break is afforded thereby.

The contacts are placed on the inward ends, respectively, of each of the arms as adapted to meet a bridging snorting bar 17 adapted to carry a contact on raised opposing sections on each side of a center portion connecting the same for in and out of engagement with the contacts on tire contact arms. The center portion of the shorting bar is apertured so that it can tit over the plunger rod, to be held at the center thereof by means of a seating washer 90. The plunger rod is grooved at the center so as to have the washer tit therein tightly. This washer forms a seat for the shorting bar so as to move the same up and down. The bottom of the housing is also apcrtured to allow the rod to pass therethrough so as to be activated by the cam face. Resilient springs 91 and 92 are placed around the plunger rods both below and above the center washer to be buttressed between it and the top and lower walls of the corresponding sections of the housing.

It is to be pointed out in the construction of the springs that spring 91 is stronger than 92. Thus, when the plunger drops olf the cam, spring 91 presses the C washer and plunger 16 downward. Therefore, the drop allows spring 91 to compress 92 and open the contacts. Moreover, in the upward position the C washer 90 leaves the shorting bar 17 and spring 92 presses the shorting bar 17 against the contact arms 20 and 22 and Contact pressure is obtained. By this construction, the necessity for close tolerances is eliminated and adequate electrical clearances are provided when the contacts are open, and sufcient over-travel of the plunger is afforded to maintain high cotnact pressure for the contacts when closed. When the housing sections are interiitted and placed in the mounting plate slots of the switch, a tight and substantially dust and moisture-proof plunger switch is provided which is economical, efficient and practical, and one which eliminates costly alignment and assembly procedures.

The description of the present cam operated plunger switch for drying cycles of washing machines is intended to be merely illustrative of the many features which are incorporated therein and which may be utilized in other fields.

I claim:

l. A switch comprising a cam on a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being held between a pair of mounting plates, said plates having a slotted head portion, the slots being of predetermined height, a plunger mechanism, a multiple-section interiitting housing having side extensions therefor, said mounting plates adapted to align and hold said multiple-section plunger housing above said cam between said mounting plates in said slotted head portion by means of said side extensions, contact carrying means penetrating said housing, and a conductive bridging member carried on said plunger mechanism to meet with said contacts upon activation of said plunger mechanism by said rotating cam.

2. A switch comprising a cam on a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being held between a pair of mounting plates having a slotted head portion, the slots being of predetermined height, a plunger mechanism, a multiple-section intertting housing having side extensions therefor, said mounting plates adapted to align and hold said plunger housing in said slotted portion of said plates next to said cam by means of said side extensions, contact carrying means placed in between the intertting of said multiple-section housing to be held thereby, and a shorting bar carried on said plunger mechanism to meet with said contacts upon activation of said plunger mechanism by said rotating cam.

3. A switch comprising a cam on a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being held between a pair of mounting plates having a slotted head portion, said slots therein being of predetermined height, a plunger mechanism, a moulded sectionalized and separable housing therefor having side extensions, said mounting plates adapted to align and hold said plunger housing in said slotted head portion in juxtaposition to said cam at a height determined by said slots by means of said extensions, cut-outs in said housing for holding contact carrying arms, contact carrying arms penetrating said housing and placed in said cut-outs to be held thereby, and a conductive bridging member resiliently carried on said plunger mechanism to meet with said contacts upon activation of said plunger mechanism by said rotating cam.

4. A dryer switch for a washing machine comprising a cam on a rotatable shaft, motor means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being held by bearings formed on a pair of vertically extending mounting plates spaced from each other a determined distance by longitudinal spacer bars, each of said plates having a main rectangular section, a connected tapered neck section and a head section further connected to said neck section, said latter section having a slot cut therein, a plunger mechanism, a housing formed of interconnecting moulded male and female sections and having compartments for including said plunger mechanism, said housing having cupola means for excluding debris therefrom, said housing further having vertical side means extending into each of said plate slots to be rmly gripped and aligned therein, said slots having an extent determining the vertical position of said housing with relation to said cam, contacts placed on arms having terminal portions held by apertures cut in the sections of said housing, said contacts being held thereby within said housing, said plunger mechanism carrying a conductive bridging member into and out of engagement with contacts in said housing, and spring means separated by a seating washer circumscribing said plunger mechanism to aid in the movement thereof so as to provide efficient and positive action thereby as said cam moves said plunger mechanism.

5. A dryer switch for a washing machine comprising a cam having circumferential tracks held on a rotatable shaft, motor means for rotating said shaft, said shaft being held between bearings formed on a pair of spaced vertically extending mounting plates, each of said plates having a main rectangular section, a connected tapered neck section and a head section further connected to said neck section, said latter section having a slot cut therein, a cam follower mechanism, a housing formed of interconnecting male and female moulded sections and having compartments for including said cam follower mechanism, said housing having cupola means for excluding debris therefrom, said housing having side means extending into each of said slots to be irmly gripped and aligned thereby, said slots having an extent determining the vertical position of said housing with relation to said cam, contacts placed on arms having terminal portions held by apertures cut in the sections of said housing, said contacts being held thereby within said housing, said cam follower mechanism carrying a conductive bridging member into and out of engagement with contacts in said housing, and spring means separated by a seating washer circumscribing said cam-follower mechanism to aid in the movement thereof so as to provide eicient and positive action thereby as said cam moves said cam follower mechanism.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,710,367 Luczak Apr. 23, 1929 1,716,690 Gaston June 11, 1929 2,245,369 Smith June 10, 1941 2,375,416 Huber May 8, 1945 2,423,361 Wood July 1, 1947 2,509,693 Morrison May 30, 1950 2,522,278 Koertge et al Sept. 12, 1950 2,545,986 Basnett Mar. 20, 1951 2,629,791 Tourneau Feb. 24, 1953 2,653,198 Krenke Sept. 22, 1953 2,758,166 Aust et al Aug. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 728,372 Germany Nov. 26, 1942 247,107 Switzerland Nov. 17, 1947 

